Hello everybody,
I'm Antronman and I have never customized a car before. I've decided to think about customizing one, and I found a sweet 1998 C5 for what I think is cheap in my area. I've read good things about the C5 and the LS1, and I want to mod it. The parts I have picked are below:

The Car:
Used Chevy Corvette ($9997 @ Kirkland)

The Parts:
Corvette Supercharger Kit - WCC Exclusive Vortech (5,595.95 @ west coast corvette)

Corvette Nitrous Oxide - NX Stage III 35-150HP System w/ 10LB. Bottle / GENX-2 / Maximizer Kit : 1997-2013 C5,C6,Z06,ZR1,Grand

Sport (1899.95 @ West Coast Corvette)

Corvette High Flow Power Duct Carbon Fiber w/50th Anniversary Emblem : 1997-2004 C5 (319.95 @ West Coast Corvette)

Corvette Exhaust System - Corsa Indy Pace Car - Tiger Shark - Quad 3.5" Pro Series Tips : 1997-2004 C5 & Z06 (1199.95 @ West Coast Corvette)

1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette Black and Red Leather Interior (699 @ leatherseats)

1997-2013 C5 & C6 Corvette SR1 Performance Wheels / APEX Series - Semi Gloss Black / Pinstripe (424.95 @ West Coast Corvette)

Corvette Fuel Rail Pinstripes w/ 5.7L : 1997-2004 C5 & Z06 (22.95 @ West Coast Corvette)

C5 Fiberglass Corner Sub Boxes (Price Varies @ Vette Nuts)

Corvette Hood - Raised Sport Style : 1997-2004 C5 & Z06 (699.95 @ West Coast Corvettes)

Thoughts? I don't know the first thing about modding, so ease of installation is also important to me.

 

honestly what are you goals for the car?? that is a big factor what mods you spend the green on mean the most! how many miles are on the car? I would do more general maintenance on the vette before I dump all the money into her, and last of I would enjoy it in stock form to used to the power before

 

I just want a great looking car that's fast and loud.
I do plan on first buying the car, then overtime putting the mods into it.

 

http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/che...xGlVo54;_ylv=3

The vehicle in question.
If it's done 100k miles and still works then I think it can do at least half that much more.

 

Skip spending money on the it's not even applicable since you will already have the supplied air filter in the Vortech kit.

Another useless expense....can't use it when supercharged.

Don't do anything until you find a qualified tuner and be sure he has the knowledge to write a good tune. I have ZERO exposure to being SC'd AND nitro. Just listen to others far more experienced than me and then decide if you want to front load all the goodies a catalog offers.

I Supercharged mine at 135,000 miles and it's FANTASTIC! I'm at 10,000 miles on the Vortech V3 and still running strong!

 

Edited.

 

Hmmm, $10K used Vette. Probably has LOTS of issues you'll have to fix FIRST. Don't think I would add any power adders till you do some basic compression and leakdown tests on this to make sure the basic engine is OK Think you ought to take the money you were going to use for MODS and buy a newer, better car.

 

If you plan on that kind of performance upgrade you better plan on making sure the clutch and everything behind it can handle it. I assume the car has over 100,000 miles on it and you probably have no maintenance history. Also you had better plan on inspecting the brakes once you get it if not before. I can see you have stars in your eyes but you better get logical and practical before you start throwing money at it. Better get a local C5 guy who knows what the hell he is doing to check it out with you. I do hope it works out for you Grasshopper.

PS: Don't buy a car until you pull the codes and note what they are. Then clear/remove them and go for a ride and pull them again before you shut the motor off. If you don't know how to do that let us know.

 

I would tend to agree, but hey, it's your money. And what sfc rick said is spot on. Don't go buying all those unnecessary parts for the car.

 

option B:

Find a good car that is modified already and buy it..

enjoy it and start out with small mods to learn the car.

You have planned out a giant step for your first car and you will likely get in over your head in a hurry

good luck

 

 

Buy the car for $10k. Spend $10k in mods. You will be left with a vehicle with reduced reliability that is worth $9k. Go for it!

 

Excellent advice.

 

Antronman,

Are you in California?

Look at A&A Corvettes for the Supercharger system:
http://www.aacorvette.com/supercharg...&cPath=1_14_43

This is the route I would go and it comes with everything you need! You can call me or text me too or call A&A and talk to their staff!

You can't beat this at all and all the other cosmetic stuff you can do when you are ready, but performance wise you need not shop any further! It comes complete with everything you need

Only thing you need to get after that will be a tune on the Dyno to dial it in, it is a must with any items added to the motor, and especially a Supercharger!

A&A kit is CA smog legal too!

Thanks,Matt

 

Another thing to consider before adding that kind of HP is to make sure the suspension and tires are adequate for it. It doesn't do any good to have 600+ HP if you can't control the car because the tires are spinning constantly.

 

First thing that struck my mind as well. There's a big list of go and some show but no stopping or cornering. If this is your first Corvette, (like my Z is and was 2 years ago) get some serious seat time first. These cars are already fast, and sound good. You want louder? Go for it, but I learned from a friend who worked at NCM with a million times more experience than me that these cars, out of the box are better drivers than the guy behind the wheel.

 

If you want to boost right off that bat you should have some other supporting mods. Clutch was mentioned earlier and very important to transfer all that power to your wheels. Again skip out on the intake because your kit will include one. I would pick up a pair of higher flowing headers and x-pipe to help maximize your gains. And again, look into upgrading your brake system.

 

What is your end gold for the car, performance, style?? Once you decide that is what you work too first and only.

 

My guess is that this car is junk. Corvette parts aren't cheap. You would be better off spending more and getting something with half the miles.